Lung Cancer

[kenf]

Does anybody have information on the probability that ground glass opacities will become malignant tumors? These were found during lung CT scans.

Thx

[Davy9]

Ken, Radiologists use a number of descriptive terms to describe what their various studies show. Lungs are like the outside of your body in that they are exposed to all the outside world (shy of what the nose filters out). They get infections. Lungs have lots of opportunities to get scars, etc..... The term you describe here is more of a diffuse type of a lesion and not a nodular one. So it sounds less likely to be a precursor to a form of cancer.

But, the propensity for lung cancer is very closely tied to ones exposure to tobacco. Tobacco is responsible for at least 90% of the lung cancers. Any persons prospect for cancers of many kinds are related to tobacco exposure. Talk with your doctor(s) or their nurses about your concerns. See if they can help you determine what may have caused your lungs "ground glass opacities" and what they may mean to your quality of life.

[LungDoc]

To clear up some misinformation:

When we taking pictures all of the long with a CAT scan, without lung tissue that is filled with air typically appears dark gray or black. When that lung tissue becomes filled with fluid or inflammatory cells, or blood, this turns the image is into a lighter grayish haze. This is what is referred to as a ground glass appearance.

The differential diagnosis for ground glass opacities includes pulmonary edema, also known as fluid inside of the lung, pneumonia, inflammation of the lung, blood inside of the spaces in the lung where there should be air. This is a brief list, but generally ground glass opacities do not imply cancer. They are not growths, like a tumor or a nodule. You should talk to your physician to see exactly what this may be. The pictures alone are not sufficient for making a diagnosis. Taking a careful and thorough history and performing a physical examination should lead your physician to the reason for these findings. I hope you find this helpful. Dr. Valentino.